Renew Richmondis a 501c3 that uses urban agriculture as a tool to mitigate poverty in underserved Richmond, VA, communities.

We empower people to cultivate healthier lifestyles through the growth of wholesome food. That’s our mission.

Since its creation in 2009, Renew’s staff and volunteers have engaged more than 2,000 residents in Richmond’s Southside. We’re just getting started.

Our vision starts from the ground up. All people have a right to live well. That includes safe places for kids to grow up, good jobs for adults, and access to affordable, nutritious food.

We focus on food because everyone has to eat.

What you eat has a tremendous impact on your health.

Because low-income populations have limited access to nutritious food and high rates of nutrition-related illnesses—diabetes, heart disease and chronic obesity to name a few—healthy food is a direct means of changing people’s lives for the better.

Urban gardens come from within the communities we support. In creating, maintaining and enjoying the harvests of urban gardens, community members not only improve their health—they learn about taking control of their environment. They gain a tool for shaping their environment.

So we engage children and their families through fun, educational and pragmatic community projects centered on the cultivation and cooking of organic, delicious, locally-grown vegetables and fruit.

In partnering with schools, churches, food pantries and various community organizations, we bring residents from low-income communities to the table. In doing so, we help to build healthier, more tightly knit RVA.